What is a Stile?

A stile is a vertical piece of wood used in the frame of a cabinet. Two stiles are combined with rails to complete the frame.

A stile is a piece of wood that is aligned vertically in a cabinet’s frame. Stiles and rails, which are horizontal pieces, are combined to create a complete cabinet frame. A stile may also refer to the vertical piece of wood that is placed in the opening of a cabinet. This center stile is used to support the weight of the frame to make it stronger and more durable, especially when the cabinets are built using particle board or MDF. Center stiles were more common in older homes, but they are still used in kitchens that have cottage, rustic or other traditional designs. While it may provide a small amount of visual appeal, a center stile makes it more difficult to store large items because it decreases the size of the storage opening.